Fuel-valve control



A ril 30, 1929. R. F. BOGER FUEL VALVE CONTROL Filed Nbv. 1, 1927 Patented Apr 30, 1929,

UNHTED s'rares PATENT oFFIcE.

ROBERT F. IBOGER,,OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SPENCER THERMOSTAT COMPANY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FUEL-VALVE CONTROL.

Application filed November 1, 1927. Serial No. 230,340.

This invention relates to an improvement in a fuel valve control and more particularly in a fuel valve control which, in an apparatus having a main burner and a pilot burner,

functions to thermostatically control the supply of fuel to the main burner, whereby the supply is cut off if'the pilot burner is extinguished. 1

The broad idea of a control so functioning is old and wellknown and the object of this invention is to provide an apparatus having a valve in the fuel supply which is normally closed but which is held open by the pressure of fluid in a line independentof the fuel line, and thermostatically controlled means, for controlling the pressure of the fluid in said line.

A further object of this invention is to provide in such a construction thermostatic means which will snap from one position to the other, thereby instantaneously insuring or cutting off the supply of fuel to the main burner. 1

Other objects will a pear from an examination of the detaile explanation of this invention hereinbelow set forth and of the drawings which form a part thereof and in which p I Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,

of one embodiment of this invention in one position; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a portion of the embodiment in another position.

The particular embodiment shown in the drawings and selected for the purpose of illustration and not for limitation, includes a main burner 10 and a pilot burner 11,

which may be of any suitable type, since the particular structure thereof forms no part of the present invention. Fuel is fed through a pipe 12 leading from any suitable source of supply to a distributor 13, from which it passes to the pilot burner 11 through a pipe 14. The amount of fuel passing through the pipe 14 may be regulated in any suitable manner, as by means of a manually operable valve 15. The fuel for the main burner 10 passes from the distributor intoa hollow casing 20 separated by a partition 21 into a lower chamber' 22 and an upper chamber 23.

connected by a passage 24 through the partition 21. The lower chamber 22 is directly connected to the distributor 13 and closed at 55 the bottom by a cap 25. Theupper chamber 1 Y 23 1s connected to the main burner 10 by a means of a suitable spring 28. The casing 60 20, which will hereafter be referred to as the supply valve casing has a tubular extension 29 from the upper chamber 23 within which extension- 1s mounted a bellows 30 open at one end. The valve 27 is connected with the plate 32 at the closed end of the bellows by a pin 31 extending through the passage 24. The plate 32 is free. to reciprocate in the extension 29 in accordance with the move ment of the valve 27, and the bellows 30 is normally contracted. The pin may be fixed to the valve 27 and the plate 32 as shown in the drawing so that the bellows 30 will supplement the action of the spring 28.

Resting upon the Wall 33 of the tubular 75 extension 29 is a hollow casing 34, here shown as having an externally threaded sleeve 35, the threads of which mesh with threads provided internally in the mouth of the wall 33 on the extension 29.; The casing is separated into lower and upper chambers 36, 37 by a partition 38 and connected by a passage 39 formed in the partition. The bellows 30 is secured at its upper open end to the sleeve 35 and its interior is thus open to the chamber 36. I

Extending from the upper face of the casing 34 is a sleeve 40 closed at the top by an apertured cap 41 fixed; in place by any suitable means (here shownhthreadedly secured thereto as at 42). The passage 39 is controlled by a valve 43 having a stem 44 which passes upwardly through the sleeve 40 and the aperture in the cap 41. Fluid under pressure flows through the casing 34 which will hereinafter be referred to as the pressure valve casing. In order to prevent any escape of'fluid around the valve stem 44, a bellows 45 open at one end is provided. The open end of the bellows is suitably 100 secured to the cap 41 on the sleeve 40. In the bottom plate 46 of the bellows is provided a hole 47 through which the stem 44 passes. Fixed on the stem 44 isva collar 48 to which the bottom plate 46 is secured, thus 105 preventing the entry ofany fluid into the bellows through the hole 47.

Supported on a sleeve 49 surrounding thevalve stem 44 is a thermostat device 50' which, as here shown, comprises ajhousing 51 within which is a thermostat element 52. The element 52 is arched and is composed of two sheets of metal having difl'erent thermal coefiicients of expansion. The valve stem 44 is secured at its upper end to the center of the element 52. As pointed out in the Spencer Patent'No. 1,448,240, dated March 13, 1923, the element 52 will under the influence of a change of temperature reverse in shape, or in other words shift from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, or vice versa. This reversal in shape takes place instantaneously when the critical temperature is reached, and the valve 43 is thus caused to snap from the open position to the closed position or from the closed position to the open vposition. The thermostatic device 50 is located adjacent td the pilot burner 11, the housing 51 preterably being in contact therewith.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing is adapted for use in a refrigerating system and the fiuid flowing through the casing 34 may be the cooling fluid from the condenser. The fluid enters the upper chamber 37 through the pipe 55, flows through the passage 39 into the lower chamber 36 and passes out the casing through the pipe 56. In its passage the fluid in the chamber 37 presses against the bottom plate 46 and supplements the normal tendency of the bellows to contract and open the valve 43 and in the chamber 36 fills the bellows 30 and presses against the bottom plate 32 thereof, opening the valve 27 by expanding the bellows 30 and compressing the spring 28. \Yhen the Valve 27 is open the fuel will pass to the main burner 10. The element 52 of the thermostat 50 is so adjusted that, when the pilot burner is lighted, it will be arched upwardly as in Fig. 2, raising the valve 43 thus permitting the flow offiuid and its resultant eifects'set forth above.

If, however, the pilot burner were extinguished, the temperature would fall until the thermostat element 52 reversed its shape, snapping the valve 43 closed to cut off the flow of fluid through the casing 34. This stoppage of the fluid flow at once reduces the pressure upon the bottom plate 32 of the bellows 30, permit-ting the bellows 30 and spring 28 to resume their normal positions, raising the valve 27 to cut ofi the supply of fuel to the main burner 10. The movement of the valves thus described takes place very rapidly, due to the instantaneous actionof the thermostat 50.

I When the pilot burner 11 is lighted, the temperature will rise until the thermostat element 52 reverses its position, opening the valve 43, to permit the flow of the fluid through the casing 34 and the resultant pressure on the bellows 30 will open the valve 27. It will be noted that the action of the thermostat in closin'gthe valve 43 is opposed by the bellows 45 and the pressure of the fluid in the chamber 37. Such action is therefore delayed until the predetermined critical temperature is reached, and then the valve is snapped down without appreciable hesitation. The action of the thermostat 50 in opening the valve 43, however, is supplemented by the pressure. of the fluid in the chamber 37, and the tendency of thebellows 45 to contract to its normal "position.

Should it be found advisable in any particular installation to reverse the direction of the flow of fluid through the casing 34, it will simply be necessary to turn the element 52 over so that when the temperature falls, due to the extinguishment of the pilot burner, the valve 43 will be raised, instead of lowered. The fluid entering the chamber 36 through the pipe 56 will expand the bellows 30 it the valve 43 is closed and thereby hold the valve 27 open. When the valve 43 is opened due to the extinguishment of the pilot burner, the fluid will flow iromthe chamber 36 to the chamber 37 and escape through the pipe 55 thus relieving the pressure in the chamber 36 and permitting the lgigllows 30 and spring 28 to close the valve The movement of the valve 43 in either direction is rapid and consequently the valve 27 is opened and'closed rapidly which insures a tullflow of fuel to the main burner and prevents the snapping back which occurs when an insuflicient amount of gas is supplied to a burner.

By virtue of the construction just described it is possible to cut oil the supply of fuel to both burners by closing the control valve 15. When it is desired to resume-operations, the valve 15 may be opened and the pilot burner 11 lighted. Fluid is fed to the casing 34 and as soon as the temperature of the pilot burner has reached the critical temperature, the valve 43 is actuated to set up pressure in the chamber 36 and expand the bellows 30, thus opening the valve 27 and permitting the "fuel to pass from the casing30 to the main burner where it is ignited by the pilot burner.

This invention has herein been set forth as applied to an embodiment applicable to a refrigerating system and the fluid passing through the casing 34 stated to be the cooling fluid from the condenser. Obviously, 110wever, this invention may be used in other embodiments and the fluid flowing through the casing 34 may be other than water without mally closed to cut off the supply of fuel to said main burner, an expansible member spaced from said valve, means rigidly connecting said valve and member whereby, when said member is expanded, said valve is opened and the fuel is supplied to said main burner, a line through which fluid flows under pressure, said line including said expansible member so that the pressure of the fluid therein will open said valve, a valve controlling the flow of fluid in said line, a thermostat responsive to the temperature of said pilot burner and means connecting said thermostat to said pressure line valve whereby said pressure line valve is actuated by said thermostat and the fluid in said line will open or permit to close said supply line valve.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, a fuel supply line, a valve in said line normally closed to cut off the supply of fuel to said main burner, an expansible member spaced from said valve, means rigidly connecting said valve and member" whereby, when said member is expanded, said valve is opened and the fuel is supplied to said main burner, a line through which fluid flows under pressure, said line including said expansible member 'so that the pressure of the fluid therein will open said valve, a valve controlling the flow of fluid in said line, and thermostatic means including a snap thermostat located adjacent to and responsive to the temperature of said pilot burner and a stem connecting said thermostat to said pressure line valve whereby said pressure line.

valve will be instantaneously o ened or closed, thus altering the pressure 0 the fluid and operating said supply line valve.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, a fuel supply line, a valve in said line normally closed to cut off the supply of fuel'to said main burner, a line through which fluid flows under pressure, means actuated by the 'pressureof the fluid in said line for opening said valve, a valve in said line for controlling the pressure of the fluid therein upon said means, and thermostatic means responsive to the temperature of said pilot burner for instantaneously opening or closing said pressure line valve thus altering the pressure of the fluid upon said means and its influence upon said supply line valve. I

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, a fuel supply line, a valve in said line normally closed to cut oflt' the supply of fuel to said main burner, a line through which fluid flows under pressure, means actuated by the pressure of the fluid in said line for opening said valve, a valve in said line for controlling the pressure of the fluid therein upon said means, and thermostatic means including a comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, a

fuel supply line,-a valve in said line normally closed to cut off the supply of fuel to said main burner, and means for opening said valve when said pilot burner is lighted and for closing said valve when said pilot burner is extinguished, said means including a thermostat located adjacent toand independent of said pilot burner and responsive to the temperature thereof, a line through which fluid flows under pressure and a valve in said line controlled by said thermostat.

6. An apparatus of the class described comnrisin a )ilot burner a main burner a fuel supplyline, a valve in said line normally closed to cut oil the supply of fuel to said main burner, and means for opening said valve when said pilot burner is lighted andfor closing said valve when said pilot burner is extinguished, said means including a thermostat located adjacent to and independent of said pilot burner and responsive to the temperature thereof, apressure line through which fluid flows under, pressure, an expansible member, a connection between sald member and said supply line valve, said member in one position closing said valve and in another position opening said valve and being forced sure of the fluid in said line to open sai valve, and means actuated by said thermostat for controlling the pressure of the fluid in said line.

7. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, a fuel supply line, a valve in said line normally closed to cut off the suppl of fuel to said main burner, and means or openingsaid valve when said pilot burner is lighted and for closing said valve when said pilot burner is extinguished, said means including a thermostat located adjacent to and inde-- pendent of said pilot burner and responsive to the temperature thereof, a pressure line through which fluid flows under pressure, an expansible member, a connection between said member and said supply line valve, said member in one position closing said valve and in another position opening said valve and being forced by the pressure of the fluid in said line to open said. valve, and a valve by the pres in said pressure line actuated by said themostat for controllingthe pressure of the fluid in said line.

8. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, a fuel supply line, a valve in said line nor mally closed to cut off the supply of fuel to said main burner, a thermostat movable in response to the temperature of said pilot burner, and means for opening said valve in response to the movement of said thermostat when said pilot burner is lighted and for closing said. valve in response to the movement of said thermostat when said pilot burner is extinguished, said means including a line through which fluid flows under pressure.

9. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, a fuel supply line, a valve in said line normally closed to cut olf the supply of fuel to said main burner, a thermostat movable inresponse to the temperature of said pilot burner, and means for opening said valve in response to the movement of said thermostat when said pilot burner is lighted and for closing said valve in response to the movement of said thermostat when said pilot burner is extinguished, said means including a line through which fluid flows under pressure, and a valve for-controlling the pressure of said fluid.

10. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, a fuel supply line, a valve in said line normally closed to cut off the supply of fuel to said main burner, a thermostat movable in response to the temperature of said pilot burner, and means for opening said valve in response to the movement of said thermostat when said pilot burner is lighted and for closing said valve in response to the movement of said thermostat when said pilot burner is extinguished, said means including a line through which fluid flows under pressure, an expansible member con nected to said valve and subject to the pressure of said fluid anda second valve for controlling the pressure of said fluid.

11. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, a fuel supply line, a valve in said line to control the supply of fuel to said main burner, a thermostat located adjacent to and independent of said pilot burner said thermostat comprising an arched control mem ber composed of two sheets of metal having different thermal coeflicients of expansion, a.

stem carried by said control member and adapted to be raised or lowered instantly thereby in response to changes of temperature of said pilot burner and means set in operation by the movement of said stem to cause the actuation of said valve.

12. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, a valve normally cutting off the supply of fuel to said main burner, means for applying pressure to one side of said valve to open it and permit the supply of fuel to said burner, a thermostat responsive to the temperature of said pilot burner, means rendering said pressure applying means inoperative and a connection between said thermostat and said last named means whereby when said pilot burner is extinguished said thermostat will render said pressure means inoperative causing the closure of said valve and cutting off the supply of fuel to said main burner and when said pilot burner is lighted the reverse operations will take place.

13. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, a valve normally cutting off the supply of fuel to said main burner, a pressure line, a connection between said pressure line and said valve whereby pressure in said line will open said valve, a valve controlling the pressure in said line, a thermostat responsive to the temperature of said pilot burner and a connect-ion between said thermostate and said last namedvalve whereby when said pilot burner is extinguished said thermostat will actuate said last named valve thus affecting the pressure in said line and causing said valve to cut off the supply of fuel to said main burner and when said pilot burner is lighted the reverse operations will take place.

14. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a main burner,

a supply valve casing, a valve in said casing normally cutting ofl the supply of fuel to said main burner, a casing through which fluid. flows under pressure, a connection between said casings whereby the pressure of said fluid tends to open said valve, a valve in said fluid casing controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, a thermostat responsive to the temperature of said pilot burner, and a connection between said thermostat and said fluid casing valve whereby said last named Valve is controlled by the temperature of said pilot burner and said supply valve is opened when the pilot burner is lighted and closed when said pilot burner is extinguished.

15. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pilot burner, a fuel supply line,- a main burner connected to said fuel supply, a valve controlling the supply of fuel to said main burner, a spring tending to close said valve, pressure means opposing said spring to open said valve, athermostat normally subjected to the heat of said pilot burner, means rendering said pressure means inoperative, and a connection between said thermostat and said last named means whereby when said pilot burner is extinguished said thermostat will render said pressure means inoperative and close said valve cutting ofli' the supply of fuel to said main burner and when said pilot burner is lighted the reverse operations will burner, and fluid pressure means between take place. said valve and said thermostat, and subject '16. An apparatus of the class described to said thermostat by which said valve will 1 comprising a pilot burner, a main burner, be opened when said pilot burner is lighted. 5 a valve normally cutting off the supply of Signed b me at Cambridge, Mass, this fuel to said main burner, a thermostat re- 29th 'day 0 October, 1927. sponsive to the-temperature of said pilot ROBERT F. BOGER. 

